Nonalcoholic French 75
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- Notes
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Ingredients
Yield:1 cocktail
- Ice
- 1ounce Sweet Bay-Peppercorn Shrub
- ½ounce fresh lemon juice
- 3dashes orange bitters (optional; see Tip)
- 2ounces soda water
- 1ounce dry tonic water
- Lemon twist
Preparation
- Step 1
In an ice-filled cocktail shaker, combine the Sweet Bay-Peppercorn Shrub, lemon juice and bitters, if using. Cover and shake until well chilled. Strain into a Nick and Nora or coupe glass, and top with soda water and tonic. Finish with the lemon twist.
Tip
- Most bitters have a small amount of alcohol and, while very diluted, make sure whomever you’re making a drink for is OK with this addition, or skip entirely.
Private Notes
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Cooking Notes
Patches
We really enjoyed this.... The non-alcoholic version was actually better than a version I made using champagne in a more standard French 75 configuration. I agree with the concern about too much sugar and was thinking about alternatives, but the sugar itself seems essential to drawing the oils out of the rinds when making the shrub. The blend of the herbs and the citrus oil and the cloves is subtly spicy and lovely. Thank you n y t!
Scott
Good, but to make it REALLY good you have to almost double the peppercorns, bay leaf, and cloves. As written, they just get obliterated by the citrus.
Hollyb
I loved the flavors in this recipe but ugh, too much sugar! I’m going to add half the amount next time. (More can always be added later if that’s going to far.)
Divine
San Pellegrino and other Italian companies make non-alcoholic bitters. Check with your local Italian grocer.
Agix
Make sure the tonic and soda are chilled beforehand. Otherwise perfect!
Catherine S
I doubled the peppercorns and spices as recommended and used cucumber tonic because that is what I had. Can’t wait to try with both regular and elderflower tonic. Good thing it is non-alcoholic because I could easily drink three or four while cooking dinner.
Sally
Bitters do NOT have a small amount of alcohol—the percentage of alcohol in bitters is quite high, however, because you only put in a dash or three, the relative amount of alcohol in this drink is low.
Catherine
This was REALLY tasty, and I was very pleasantly surprised to see it tastes very close to a true French 75! Really great option for people who want to cut back on drinking.
kitchendesigner
Loved this. The “excess” sugar was eliminated by the chinois that I used for straining. I have been trying for a few years to find a shrub that worked to produce a real cocktail taste: this is the closest I’ve come. Now I’m going to have another…
Nancy Serrurier
Completely agree with previous comments; the NA version tastes just like a wonderful French 75. Thank you! A couple of observations: I reduced the sugar by 1/4C and will try 1/2C next time just because it was still pretty sweet. It did not last in the refrigerator for even 5 days; the salt flavor took over and the citrus notes dulled. I will try a smaller batch, as well.
AmandaH
To make the shrub I used 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, rosemary instead of Thyme. I didnt have tonic so used more seltzer instead. The result was delicious. I will definitely make this again and try some other variations mentioned!
Christina
Loved it! It has great body and a depth of flavor that most NA beverages are lacking.
Martin
Delicious! I made this for dry January, and it drinks like a complex cocktail- you’d be fooled into thinking there is alcohol in it. I didn’t have grapefruit so I substituted pomelo, and used Meyer lemons with a touch more pepper. I’ll make it again!
mm
For the shrub, I doubled the clove/pepper/bay, threw in 4 juniper berries, and cut the sugar to 1 cup. Made the drink per this recipe, and I agree with some others…too sweet. On my second “cocktail” the next night, I did roughly 1oz shrub 4oz tonic 4oz club soda bitters. THIS was delicious. It allowed the herbal and bitter notes to come through, rather than being walloped with the extra citrus in the mix.
lizY
I might add a ground juniper berry to the spice mix next time, give a little “gin-ish” hint.
Katinka
Curious to know if anyone did anything with the peels after the shrub was made.
Steph
One of the best non-alcoholic mocktails we've tried at home.
kitchendesigner
Loved this. The “excess” sugar was eliminated by the chinois that I used for straining. I have been trying for a few years to find a shrub that worked to produce a real cocktail taste: this is the closest I’ve come. Now I’m going to have another…
Divine
San Pellegrino and other Italian companies make non-alcoholic bitters. Check with your local Italian grocer.
Catherine
This was REALLY tasty, and I was very pleasantly surprised to see it tastes very close to a true French 75! Really great option for people who want to cut back on drinking.
Sally
Bitters do NOT have a small amount of alcohol—the percentage of alcohol in bitters is quite high, however, because you only put in a dash or three, the relative amount of alcohol in this drink is low.
Agix
Make sure the tonic and soda are chilled beforehand. Otherwise perfect!
Catherine S
I doubled the peppercorns and spices as recommended and used cucumber tonic because that is what I had. Can’t wait to try with both regular and elderflower tonic. Good thing it is non-alcoholic because I could easily drink three or four while cooking dinner.
Margaret
Used 2 oz tonic 1 oz blinking owl aquavit Served over ice, stirred Herbaceous and delicious And further experimentation is a great idea too. E.g. used a lot more spice and aromatics in making syrup next time.
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